A Brush With Love: Destiny's Cove, #2

By Grace Roberts

She never forgot the broody guy who stole her heart. He never got over his first crush. It's time Destiny took matters into her own hands.

Kyla Callaghan left Destiny's Cove to chase a dream in New York, but she never stopped thinking about the guy who saved her life and secretly captured her heart in high school. When she returns to her hometown for a short visit nine years later, and he saves her once again, she can't help but wonder whether the town legend of the matchmaking ghost might be real after all.

With an alleged pirate curse connected to his family name, Caleb Morgan has been an outcast all his life. Although he tried starting anew away from Destiny's Cove, the town called him back, and he resigned himself to a hermit's life with only his dog for company. Until the girl he secretly crushed on in high school comes back to town, and he can't help but wonder if everything might be about to change.

As Kyla and Caleb finally get to know each other, their feelings evolve into something stronger. Will they find a way to make it work even after her stay comes to an end, or is this destined to be nothing but a brief brush with love?

This is book two in the Destiny's Cove sweet romance trilogy, but it can be read on its own.

***This book was previously published as "A Brush With Love in Fortune's Bay"***

• Language: English
• Publisher: Grace Roberts
• Release date: Nov 13, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393517580

Grace Roberts

Grace writes heartwarming stories set in Ireland or in small towns in the United States—two places where she’d love to live while writing full-time. She’s also an avid reader who thinks daydreaming should be a paid profession and that the world would be a better place if bookworms ruled it. Growing up as an only child, she spent all her free time with her nose stuck in books, enjoying the company of fictional friends, while dreaming of becoming an author. Discovering books by Rosamunde Pilcher was the turning point in her life, and she decided to start writing down the stories that kept playing in her head, just for fun. After the first couple of stories, though, she found it impossible to stop—and she’s been writing ever since. Subscribe to Graces’s newsletter to make sure you’re always up-to-date with her writing world.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Welcome to Destiny’s Cove.

The green, wooden sign seemed to smirk at Kyla Callaghan as she drove the cherry-red rental Mini past it, as if mocking her for coming back to her hometown in the southwest of Florida. She didn’t want to feel welcome. She actually didn’t even want to be back so soon after her last visit, last Christmas. But she couldn’t miss her parents’ fortieth wedding anniversary—they would never forgive her if she did, nor would her big brother. And even though the relationship with her parents had been strained ever since she’d left Florida and headed for the Big Apple to follow her dreams nine years ago, she loved her brother too much to risk ruining their relationship because she couldn’t swallow her pride for a few days. So she’d taken a week off from her job at a prestigious art gallery in New York and flown to Miami, then drove the 150 miles to her hometown with only the company of her toy poodle.

We’re nearly there, Sugarpuff, she said, waking her travel companion from her two-hour-long nap. The dog yawned and stood on her hind paws, staring out the window. Kyla returned her attention to the road. It had been a while since she’d driven a car, and she wasn’t comfortable being behind the wheel, but you couldn’t be in Destiny’s Cove and not have a car. Just another thing about her hometown she wasn’t fond of.

She’d just left Kismet Row, the least desirable part of town, behind when Sugarpuff started whining and scratching the window.

What’s wrong, baby?

Kyla slowed down and pulled over. She didn’t like the idea of stopping in this neighborhood, but she had a feeling her dog needed a toilet break, and she didn’t want to pay an extra fee to the car rental because of stained seats.

She got out of the car and went to open the passenger door. As soon as she did, Sugarpuff shot out as if a wolf was after her. Kyla chuckled. Yes, stopping had been a good idea. She kept her eyes on her dog, while throwing glances around her to make sure nobody would jump out of the woods and steal her car.

After Sugarpuff did her business, she came trotting back toward her, but just before Kyla could reach for her and pick her up, the poodle stopped and started barking at something. Kyla took a step toward her and spotted a yellow butterfly on a daisy.

Leave it alone, baby. Kyla reached for the dog, but Sugarpuff barked again, and the butterfly spread its wings and flew away. The dog immediately took off running after it.

Sugarpuff, don’t! Kyla yelled, stumbling as she chased after her as fast as her heels allowed. Come back, right this minute. I don’t have time for this now. We have to get going!

The poodle ignored her and sneaked underneath a metal fence with a Private Property—No Trespassing sign, happily headed toward a stream that snaked through the trees. She stopped close to the bank, barking like crazy at something in the distance.

Come here, Puffy. Here, girl. Come on.

Kyla climbed over the fence and rushed toward the pooch. She had nearly reached her when low, frantic barks came from behind her. Sugarpuff’s barking turned wilder. Kyla spun just as a huge, black-and-white beast—a Bernese mountain dog, if she wasn’t mistaken—trotted at full speed toward them. She let out a high-pitched shriek and stumbled backward.

A splash had her whip her head around.

Puffy!

Dread filled her at the sight of her beloved dog struggling to keep her head out of the water. But even more at the thought of having to get into the stream. Ever since that dreadful day in high school when she’d nearly died, she stayed well away from streams, rivers, oceans, and whatever else involved gallons of water. Even tubs gave her the creeps.

The giant dog jumped into the water and Kyla let out another shriek. She couldn’t let that beast eat her baby. Sugarpuff had been her only companion through lonely nights; she’d offered comfort when Kyla was feeling down. Her pup was like her own child. She had to get over her fears and save her. She inhaled deeply and dove head-first—then regretted her impulsive decision as soon as the water engulfed her. Panic squeezed her lungs, her throat constricted, and she barely managed to let out a yelp before water filled her mouth and she went under.

Chapter 2

Caleb Morgan loved living on the outskirts of Destiny’s Cove, on a secluded property nobody but the mailman ever dared to visit for fear of the curse. The stupid innuendos and town gossip had made his life as a kid a real nightmare, but now they came in handy. Nobody bothered him here, and he was free to paint in peace and do his job without needing to leave his house for days on end. He didn’t feel lonely or anything. He had Bear to keep him company—his furry, loyal companion was better than any two-legged creature. He only had to interact with people when he went into town for shopping, even though sometimes he still preferred to drive to the nearest town so as to avoid the looks and whispered words that ensued whenever he walked down the streets. Narrow-minded didn’t even begin to describe these people, but he had made a life for himself here, he had a beautiful house and didn’t have to worry about nosy neighbors or annoying roommates. He could do his job anywhere, as long as there was an Internet connection, but he wanted to stay in Destiny’s Cove—at least as long as his father was alive.

His hand holding the brush stilled on the canvas, as Bear’s frantic barking reached his ears. He thought he heard a shriek, but he couldn’t be sure, with the crazy barking covering every other sound. It was odd. Bear hardly ever barked, unless he spotted some kind of wild animal. He’d only ever barked like that when he’d found that baby alligator on the edge of his property. Caleb dropped the brush onto the nearby three-legged folding table where he put his palette and color tubes, and took off running toward the river. He just hoped it wasn’t the baby alligator’s mom this time.

When he reached the stream, his eyes were immediately drawn to the woman flapping her arms while barely keeping her head above the water. Was it some kind of joke? Bear was in the water too, paddling toward the bank with what looked like a small, white dog sitting on his head. From the way the animal was soaked, with the white fur sticking to its tiny body, it might as well be a rat.

Help!

The desperate shout brought his attention back to the woman in the water. Okay, so it wasn’t a joke. He groaned as he walked into the stream—getting drenched hadn’t been on his to-do list today. With two steps he was close enough to grab the woman by the arms and pull her up. Only, she didn’t follow his lead to stand. She threw her arms around him, nearly knocking him off balance. He groaned again and swept her off her feet to avoid ending up flat on his back. Only then did he realize she was shaking like a leaf—and it couldn’t be because she was cold, since it had to be at least eighty-five degrees today. No, the woman was genuinely terrified. He spun around to get out of the water, but she clung to him so tight she nearly strangled him.

No, wait! My dog. She jumped into the water, I have to save her!

He rolled his eyes. Calm down. Your dog’s fine.

She wriggled in his arms and he was tempted to drop her, before she pulled them both down. You don’t understand! She was drowning and I had to dive in and— She stopped with her mouth open. Caleb Morgan?

He frowned and took a good look at her for the first time. Her long, dark hair was plastered to her head, partially covering a cheek, but when he met her eyes, recognition hit him like lightning. He’d recognize those blue eyes anywhere.

Kyla Callaghan.

Her name left his lips on a whisper, as if he were afraid that saying it louder would wake him up from the dream. The girl he’d crushed on for the better part of high school was in his arms. If he believed in the silly legend of the matchmaking ghost haunting their town, he’d probably think Destiny O’Hara had something to do with this fortuitous meeting.

You remember me. It wasn’t a question, though her tone was surprised. Yes, she’d grown and he hadn’t seen her in nine years, ever since they graduated high school and they both left town, but she was still as beautiful as she was back then. Only, a more mature, more sophisticated kind of beauty.

She smiled brightly, with her hands still wrapped around his neck, and it was all he could do to keep control of his actions when a loud voice in his head shouted, Kiss her, you fool!

And you remember me. Ugh, could he have said something more stupid than that?

She laughed, nodding and showing no intention of easing her hold around him. He suddenly became aware of the touch of her fingers against his skin, and a warm jolt traveled down his spine.

He opened